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THE’ TWIN VENTRILOQ UISTS. - 79
I would have had something for the child of my brother;
and you say she resembles the portrait. Well, when my
brother and I were boys we greatly resembled each other.
And now listen to me: I accept your gage. I will not
ask to see my niece until you have made good your prom-
ise; either you shall recover my fortune or you shall come...
to me and say you have failed.”
“It will be strange if I ever come to you and that
I have failed. You can trust me. I seek no reward, but
I believe I can recover your fortune, and now I haven
double motive for doing so.”
There came a quick, searching glance to the old man’s
eyes, but he said nothing until after an interval, when he
declared :
“Recover the fortune and you shall not complain of
your reward.”
“Have you talked much to the detectives?”
“I have not, because until now I was indifferent.”
“If I can secure the slightest clue I will promise sues
cess. Have you any recollection of the appearance of
either of the men?”
“ Yes; I had a struggle with them before they chloro-
formed me.”
The old man proceeded and gave quite an accurate
description of one of the men.
“ This is great!” said Ike, and he asked:
“ Where did the struggle take place?”
“Down in my parlor. I heard them down there as 11
heard you, despite your care, and there I met and fought
them until overpowered.”
Ike went dow-n to the parlor. He spent one minute
gazing at the portrait and then set to Work. He had
associated so much with detectives he had their methods
down to a due point; and besides, as our readers know,
he was naturally a perfect wonder in shrewdnese and